Michael Hempfling is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in the financial services industry in 1995, initially working in securities regulatory supervision before joining Merrill Lynch. His role involves providing investment advisory services and portfolio management to individuals, families, and business owners. Michael holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation and is certified as a Senior Portfolio Advisor through Merrill Investment Advisory Program. He has also completed the Series 63 and Series 65 regulatory exams. His expertise includes retirement planning, investment strategy development, portfolio management, and wealth preservation. He earned both a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri. In addition to his professional experience, Michael is a United States Army Veteran. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, football, soccer, traveling, and watching movies.

Jonathan Parr is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for Flowserve Corporation for ten years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a broad range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Matthew Kogler is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Invesco Advisers, Advised Assets Group, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. From 2023 to 2025, he was involved with RLK Phoenix Enterprises LLC. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities, delivering services on a non-discretionary basis.

James Egan is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Charles Schwab Bank, Charles Schwab, and TD Ameritrade in various roles since 2014. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program and related managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts and offers multi-asset model portfolios supported by centralized custody and operational capabilities.

Frederick De Groot is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Based in Houston for the past 20 years, he specializes in executive compensation, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, and tax minimization. Frederick applies a disciplined and balanced approach to portfolio management, helping clients navigate market volatility and focusing on strategies tailored to their unique financial goals. Frederick holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) designation and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) certification. He earned his bachelor's degree from LaSalle University and his MBA from The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. His extensive experience includes working with corporate executives and professionals through various economic climates, emphasizing proactive communication and accountability. Outside of his professional work, Frederick enjoys reading, running, and spending time with his family. He is involved in community organizations including EYBL Basketball, The John Cooper School, Texas Torque, and The University of Chicago.

Renee Weston is a Financial Advisor with over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently working with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in comprehensive wealth management and advanced planning strategies, including retirement planning, wealth transfer and legacy planning, education funding, and asset protection. Renee works closely with clients to develop personalized financial plans aligned with their individual goals, values, and visions for the future. She holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and has an educational background including a High School Diploma from Klein High School and an Associate's Degree from North Harris Montgomery County College. Renee is committed to building lasting relationships by providing thoughtful guidance and helping clients make informed financial decisions throughout different stages of life. As a mother of three young adult children, Renee understands the importance of planning ahead and creating financial security for future generations. She is dedicated to assisting clients in building, preserving, and transferring wealth in ways that reflect their priorities.

Michael Pinkley is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Conroe, Texas, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Linsco Private Ledger since 2004 and operates under the DBA Wealth Management Group. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.

Cassidy Wilson is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. Wilson has worked with Thrivent Financial since 2020 and has been associated with Thrivent Investment Management Inc. since 2019. Prior to that, Wilson was with Sarah E Davis - Thrivent from 2014 to 2020. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based financial planning focused on a range of topics, delivered either on a one-time or ongoing basis, without including implementation of recommendations.

Seth Bailey Dudley is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, he worked at Fidelity Investments and AIG Retirement Services. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Joshua Vessell is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor. In his role, he works closely with clients to define their financial goals and develop personalized portfolio strategies designed to help them pursue long-term objectives. He provides ongoing advice and adapts client portfolios as their situations evolve. Joshua's expertise includes executive compensation, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income planning. He focuses on understanding clients' priorities and delivers recommendations supported by data and research, emphasizing disciplined financial planning and investment management. He holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Joshua earned a High School Diploma from The Woodlands College Park High School and attended Houston Baptist University without receiving a degree. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys cooking, running, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Janet Bryant is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 38 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. She serves as a trustee for a friend's trust in Birmingham, Michigan. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary options. The firm’s advisory process is based on investment policy statements and modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Donato Martone is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Edward Jones and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved administratively with RCM Anesthesia LLC and is authoring a book. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Braden Witham is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 66 and Series 63 designations and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Charles Schwab and several other companies outside the financial sector. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a mix of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios across multiple investment platforms.

Diego Berrocal Dejo is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab who holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has six years of industry experience. He has worked with Charles Schwab Bank, SSB and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 2020, and prior to that was with Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his financial advisory work, he is involved in organizing pickleball tournaments. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts and offers a comprehensive model portfolio approach supported by centralized custody and operational infrastructure.

Mark Pond is a CFP® with 23 years of experience in financial advisory, currently serving at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He previously worked at Raymond James & Associates and manages his own entities, MAP Wealth Management LLC and Pond Wealth Management. He is a volunteer member of the Finance Committee at Frassati Catholic High School in Spring, TX. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and charitable clients. The firm offers tailored non-discretionary planning and consulting using risk profiling and modeling tools and supports municipal and public-finance work through a related municipal advisor.

Lee Gibson is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cetera and its related entities since 2025 and previously spent 12 years at Concourse Financial Group Securities Inc. In addition to his advisory role, Gibson is involved in manufacturing and sales of a proprietary design product under a commission agreement. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party money managers.

Kari Ruchti is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked in various healthcare-related roles, including at UnityPoint Health System Services and Plains Area Mental Health. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning services supported by structured processes and advanced modeling tools.

Valerie Avila is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with seven years of industry experience. She has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2018 and has a longer tenure with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. dating back to 2009. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework when recommending strategies.

Brent Mitcham is a CFP® professional affiliated with Cetera, with 10 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera in 2025, he worked for Concourse Financial Group Securities Inc. from 2015 to 2025. He operates Strategic Financial Advisors, providing financial planning and insurance services, and holds leadership roles at Mitcham Advisors LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of over 10,000 independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, utilizing a multi-manager platform that includes discretionary and non-discretionary strategies across various program structures.

Joshua Heard is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in The Woodlands, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining UBS in 2021, he held positions at DS Recreational Services, Inc., Panola College, and The University of Texas at Austin. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory services, combining proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor financial plans. The firm offers a broad platform including fee-based planning, portfolio management, principal trading, and capital markets services.